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The MIT Blackjack Team in their Heyday
What would it be like to walk into a Vegas casino knowing that you’ll leave a lot richer? Just ask Dave Irvine, an original member of the MIT Blackjack Team. In the 1990’s, this group of MIT students developed a unique card counting strategy that enabled them to win millions of dollars through team play. And Dave Irvine was one of the first players to enjoy the team’s long streak of success.
Growing Up far from Blackjack
One might expect that Dave Irvine grew up street-wise, playing cards in his youth. But the reality is that he had never before played a game of Blackjack when he joined the MIT team.
Born and raised in a small town in Indiana, Irvine was the son of a Notre Dame professor and a high-school teacher. After making his way through high school, and graduating in 1989 with honors, Irvine went on to MIT, where he initially focused his studies on avionics. He also played intramural sports at MIT, and it was there that he met his friend and future business associate, Mike Aponte.
Joining the MIT Blackjack Team
When Mike Aponte met Dave, he immediately recognized that his friend might make a good player on the MIT Blackjack Team. Irvine went to his first meeting, and was apprehensive about playing cards professionally. But he went through the team’s training course, and was pleasantly surprised by how simple it was to learn how to count cards.
On one of Irvine’s first forays into a real casino environment, the team won almost 55,000 dollars in one hour. After that, Irvine was hooked. He had discovered an enjoyable pastime that earned incredible financial rewards. Dave took his place on the team as a back spotter - a team member who watches the count at various tables, and calls in a big player when the cards are hot.
Moving On from Blackjack
Irvine’s stint as a card counter took him through college, where he graduated with a major in mechanical engineering, and onto Cornell Graduate School, where he earned a master’s in bioengineering. He went on to obtain a Masters in Business from Purdue, and finally decided to give up card counting so he could focus his attention on the family’s bioengineering business. Today, he’s at the head of the engineering firm, which produces technology that helps the United States destroy chemical weapons.
Bringing Back Blackjack
So was that the end of Blackjack for David Irvine? Not quite. In 2004, Irvine got together with former team member, Mike Aponte, to form the Blackjack Institute. Together, they developed software, educational materials, manuals, and a hands-on instructional program to help Blackjack players learn how to become Blackjack winners. Now, the Blackjack Institute gives Dave and Mike the chance to do what they love best, and to pass on their vast experience to future players.
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